October 19th 2024.
Comedian Chris McCausland, known for his witty humor, recently expressed his concerns about potentially being seen as a "sympathy vote" on this season's Strictly Come Dancing. The 47-year-old, who lost his eyesight due to a hereditary condition, retinitis pigmentosa, at the age of 22, has made history as the first blind contestant on the popular show. Despite this, he has become a fan favorite and is currently the bookies' top pick to take home the coveted glitterball trophy.
Chris, who is partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, has impressed both viewers and the show's panel of judges with his performances. However, in an exclusive interview with The Mirror, he revealed that he didn't want to win solely due to sympathy. He stated, "Every time we get through, I say to Dianne, 'Oh, I got away with that, didn't I?' It's certainly gone better than I thought it would, because I had no idea whether I'd be able to do it at all, which is part of my doubt and fear about doing Strictly."
Making the transition from stand-up comedy to dancing has not been easy for Chris, both mentally and physically. He admitted to hitting a few walls along the way, but also acknowledged the thrill of facing fears and pushing oneself out of their comfort zone. He shared, "Stand up ultimately becomes a comfort zone, doesn't it? And even though people think it's brave and all that, it just becomes a regular Tuesday."
Despite initially turning down the opportunity to join the show, Chris has proven himself to be a strong and talented dancer. He has no problem with being a "bad dancer" or even having people laugh at his comical moves, but he didn't want to be labeled as a "calamity" due to his blindness. The judges, however, have been impressed with his skills and have even predicted him to win the entire competition.
Last week, Shirley Ballas praised Chris for his "flawless" lifts during their Salsa routine, saying, "You didn't miss a trick, you got absolutely everywhere you needed to be and stayed in time to the music. I am telling you from my heart, that is absolutely impressive." His performances have even caused some viewers to shed tears, leading to the term "Chris McCausland effect" being coined.
This weekend, Chris and Dianne will be dancing a Waltz to the iconic Liverpool football anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone." Will he continue to impress and win over the hearts of the audience? The anticipation is high, and many are rooting for him to take home the trophy. Whether he wins or not, Chris has already made an incredible impact on the show and has proven that anything is possible with determination and hard work.
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